Tucked away miles out from civilization, in the middle of the Kramer Junction in the Mojave Desert, something very special has been going down a few times a year: Jackson Tree. The latest installment of this DIY Festival, started by the Jackson Collective of LA, took place at the end of March and it was the best one yet. I laughed, I cried, and I danced. The Festival is based around campsites that lead up to a makeshift stage, fire dancers, various art installations and a not-so-makeshift sound system (the Hennneyyyy) as different members of the collective take their turns showcasing their production talents and DJ skills and, in a lot of cases, some original tracks they haven’t released yet. It is a hard feeling to shake once the festival has ended: you are immensely submerged in a loving atmosphere with the people you care about, and all that seems to matter is that moment and what we’re dancing to. There was so much awesome talent in this latest edition of the Gathering, I found myself unsure of who was even on stage fuckin’ me up a lot of the time. That’s when I first heard Omar and Sammy, or better known to us now as the electrifying bass house duo, 2C B.

2 CB play their first ever show at Jackson Tree Spring Gathering in March 2018. Photo by Conner Lee Coughenour

To preface this, I hadn’t any idea they were even going to be spinning going into the festival, and I honestly hadn’t even heard of their moniker, 2C B yet. With that being said, I watched that whole damn set and danced my ass off. The high energy song selection never ceased to bring the fire, and bass chocked house beats carried our feet from one end of a sandy desert dance floor to the other, smiles and laughter and good times a-plenty. That’s when a friend of mine leans over and says, “this is the first time they’ve ever spun..” My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. How are you this in tune with your crowd, what they wanna hear, and the general atmosphere of the night and this is the first time you’ve taken a crack at it? And these songs? I hadn’t heard half the tracks they were playing and each one slapped. Thats when that same friend leans over and says, “yeah, they’re dropping like 10 originals too. Most of these are their songs”. “Fuck outta here” I told him, laughing. But it wasn’t a joke. 2C B was here, and out in the middle of the desert, they were making sure their presence was known. Fast forward to today, June 21st, and their single “Smoke” is here on SevenEves Records. Smoke is a fun house track with a melodically eerie, uncomfortable introduction to a message most of us in the working class can relate to. We workin’ all week/Just so we can buy a drink. The ritual of the late night dance party has become a form of release for many: It’s a place we can let go, dance, enjoy ourselves, and have fun, but it's not for free, and 2C B simultaneously remind us of those things through music & dance. The song quickly jerks us forward from it’s dark tone to a bass-filled banger at the 1:30 mark, introducing a fun balance of bass and untz that kept me bouncin’ in my seat all 5 back-to-back times I listened to the track. The song reminds us again and again: we worked for this. We worked all week for this. So have a good time. I personally think it's a perfect track to bring the crowd up in your set and I can't wait to hear it live.

Photo by Conner Lee Coughenour

Part of me feels like I remember hopping around with my friends under the moonlight to this pumped up jammer, dirt flowing in the air around our dirty hair, literally zero fucks given, and it’s times like these, when you remember those great times, that I feel like thanking the DJ(s). They’ve curated a night that we’ve worked hard for, and they want us to have fun. It’s their job, their duty, their passion to make sure we’re on that dance floor letting go and setting our minds free. Pouring your heart and soul into your song selection and enjoying yourself while you bring up the energy and overall mood of an entire crowd of people, that’s just the job. Producing 10 original tracks and ab-sol-utely killin’ it your first time spinning? Now, That’s just showin’ off. But please, by all means, keep showin’ off, 2C B. We know you’re out here now, and we’re ready for more.